Dutch Deluxe (1979 Cherokee build)

[Pullie]

Hi,

I have been on this site for quite a while now, mostly just reading and so now and then asking a question.

Bought a 1979 Cherokee about 2 years ago with no title and German license plates. bought it for a europear decent price. motor was running pretty good (360) tranny was shot (Th400 without forward gears) and a BW1339 QT with Low range and a halfway decent set of D44 with 3.54 axles.

Bought it like most do. went to buy a set of D44's for my 1992 YJ Wrangler build and seeing the chero. of course 4 weeks later I got some unexpected money (thanx grandpa!) and after a new Kitchen, a set of 37x12,5x15 Creepy crawlers for the YJ and a 4" lift for my wife's YJ I just happened to have the exact amount of the chero in my pocket

Anyway, picked it up not really sure what to do with it (I always wanted wan and now I have it, I RULE ((Kevin Spacey after getting his TA in American Beauty)))

Picked it up like this:







In the first couple of weeks I started doing some body work, and some exterior modifications (AKA taking stuff off) It ended up like this:



And then decided on some colours:





The body and frame are solid, just the paint that is nasty. luckily I don't like that colour anyway

[Pullie]

After thinking quite a bit what I wanted I started taking some stuff out:













This gave me pretty much a clean slate to draw on

[Pullie]

So after much tought I decided on a course of action.

The Plen:

A solid and reliable go-anywhere Jeep that looks classic yet drives and feels "modern" to replace our 1997 Jeep GC ZJ 4.0

Axles: H233B (Nissan Patrol) axles with 4.88 gearing, and a rear locker.

Brakes: disc brakes front and rear. maybe Hydroboost

Suspention: Rear leafs with shackle flip. front radius arms with panhard

Engine: 5.2 V8 with fuel injection and OBDI (1993-1995 ZJ engine)

Tranny: RE44 with overdrive.

Transfer case; D300 (Front H233B is passanger drop)

Tires: BFG MT 35x12,5x15

lift: approx. 5"

basically. I'm gonna take the luxery and drivetrain fram a ZJ and implement it in a Cherokee.

THIS BUILD IS GONNA BE SLOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I also have a full time job as a NDT Specialist, a 1yr old doughter, and a house that is being renovated (A farm house from 1880)

And of course I like the "quality" time with the wife

So far I have the front H233B in place and have the radius arm brackets build and location mocked up.

today I started on the coil buckets. I'm gonna use ZJ Springs, probably Rancho's with 220LBS/Inch spring rate.














Any remarks or questions I'll be happy to hear/answer

[Brizio]

Cool! you are doing a great job!!!

[Josh D]

This will be a build worth following! Great start so far!

[balzer]

Can you give us some specs on the axles? Are they stronger or just had the lockers and gears you wanted?

Thanks

[letank]

Very nice. As for the lack of motion, a simple test is to disconnect and plug the vacuum transmission modulator line, then you should have motion. The modulator goes bad with time, about $10 in the states, the engine sucks up trany fluid and smokes heavily.

Are you selling that bumper?

[Pullie]

Can you give us some specs on the axles? Are they stronger or just had the lockers and gears you wanted?

Thanks

strength wise they are comparable to a F*RD 9" plus they have factory 4.88 and disc brakes. they cost me exactly the same as what I got for de D44's

rear locker is vacuum actuated, front has no locker. never had any locker so for now I'm happy with just one.

[Pullie]

Very nice. As for the lack of motion, a simple test is to disconnect and plug the vacuum transmission modulator line, then you should have motion. The modulator goes bad with time, about $10 in the states, the engine sucks up trany fluid and smokes heavily.

Are you selling that bumper?

The bumper I traded for a "normal" one. I Live in Holland so shipping would have been a B****

In Holland gas prices are around $4,- a gallon. and propane is around $2,- a gallon. so fuel economy (fuel injection and overdrive) is pretty nice.

I will do a propane conversion of course.

[250psd]

Looks like a cool build! Definetley subscribing to this! Good luck!

[bijna]

very interested, subscribed.

[The Colonel]

very interested, subscribed.

X2!

[Austin 4x4]

very cool. i love seeing what people build around the world where the parts avalabilaty is diffrent.

[Tigger4X]

Nice looking build there PULLIE!!

Like AUSTIN said its pretty cool to see how the parts from different regions come together. There is a member on here from Pakistan ands his stuff is pretty cool too. I'm subscribed to your sweet build thread and wish you all the best!

[letank]

The bumper I traded for a "normal" one. I Live in Holland so shipping would have been a B****

In Holland gas prices are around $4,- a gallon. and propane is around $2,- a gallon. so fuel economy (fuel injection and overdrive) is pretty nice.

I will do a propane conversion of course.

I`m next door for the moment in France......

Can you give us some specs about the propane set up in Europe.